Story Highlights

When it comes to burgers, two things matter most: meat and heat. In Indianapolis, you'd better get both exactly right. Competition among the city’s many burger restaurants is cut-throat.

Henri Najem knew that going into his Flamme Burger restaurant. His wife and business partner, Shelley Najem, warned him.

“She asked me if I was crazy,” Najem said.

But Najem had a plan. Flamme Burger would stand out thanks to a monstrous grill from his imagination.

“I told her that we’re going to do something different and something that’s going to be better than everybody else’s burger,” Najem said.

Every burger at Flamme Burger, new to Keystone Commons shopping center, 8487 Union Chapel Road, near The Fashion Mall, is cooked over a live fire. Indiana oak logs and applewood chips fill a brick-lined pit.

The stainless-steel grill Najem designed sits over the flames. Its motorized grate rises and falls at the touch of a button.

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Flamme Burger owner Henri Najem’s love for burgers dates to his childhood, when famous fast-food chains like Indiana’s Burger Chef were popping up all over America. Growing up, the half-Lebanese Najem loved the family dish kafta, seasoned ground meat shaped around a skewer and grilled.(Photo: Liz Biro/IndyStar)

Burgers sizzle on V-shaped grooves inspired by Argentine parrilla grills. The grooves allow some fat to drip into the fire, sending up flavor-building smoke, and some to funnel away so that the burgers are not greasy.

The results are juicy, evenly smoky, lightly crusted burgers that have earned Flamme Burger critics’ choice awards in 2016 and 2017 at the Indy Burger Battle. The restaurant competes again at the event 1 to 4 p.m. July 28 on Downtown Indy’s George Street (tickets at indyburgerbattle.com).

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Flamme Burger was in Fishers, but when parking proved too difficult for customers, the Najems relocated to Keystone Commons, 8487 Union Chapel Road, near The Fashion Mall. That restaurant opened on June 20, 2018.(Photo: Liz Biro/IndyStar)

The grill is only one reason why Flamme Burger keeps winning awards.

Najem’s love for burgers dates to his childhood, when famous fast-food chains like Indiana’s Burger Chef were popping up all over America. Growing up, the half-Lebanese Najem also loved the family dish kafta, seasoned ground meat shaped around a skewer and grilled.

His years of burger-eating experience added up to three beef cuts in Flamme Burger patties: sirloin for beefy flavor, brisket for bite and short rib for juicy, fatty goodness.

For the award-winning, signature Flamme burger (only $5 during Indy Burger Week June 25 to July 1), he melts Swiss cheese on the patty, which he simply seasons with salt and pepper. Applewood bacon goes on top, followed by fresh serrano peppers blistered on the grill.

The final touch is sriracha and sweet chili aioli Najem makes in-house, from scratch, as he does all sauces. The aioli is based on a family recipe. The half-Italian Najem and his wife ran Bella Vita Italian restaurant in Geist. His parents operated restaurants in Downtown Indianapolis.

Flamme Burger’s namesake stack is spicy. You’ll need one of the gelato milkshakes to cool the burn. Flavors include bananas foster and strawberry shortcake.

Flamme Burger was in Fishers, but when parking proved too difficult for customers, the Najems relocated to Keystone Commons. That restaurant opened on June 20. Flamme Burger’s other location is in Whitestown, 6850 Whitestown Parkway.